Marjorie Press Lindblom
Overview
After nearly 35 years with Kirkland's Litigation Practice Group, 29 of them as a partner, Marjorie Lindblom retired in 2013. She then served for eight years as co-chair of the Firmwide Pro Bono Management Committee, continuing her longstanding involvement in the Firm's pro bono work.
During her years of active commercial practice Lindblom served as lead counsel in a wide variety of commercial litigation matters. She had first-chair jury and bench trial experience in state and federal courts across the country and in domestic and international arbitrations. Much of her work focused on business contracts, including patent licenses, and computer and other scientific and engineering issues. Lindblom had appellate arguments in the Second, Fifth, Seventh, and Tenth Circuit Courts of Appeal, the Connecticut Supreme Court, the Massachusetts Appeals Court, and before the Seventh Circuit sitting en banc, and she served as lead counsel in a number of cases before the New York and other appeals courts which were argued by junior lawyers under her supervision. She also authored amicus briefs in pro bono cases in the federal appellate courts and the U.S. Supreme Court.
Lindblom was the national co-chair of the Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law and was a long-time member of its Board of Directors, and in 2009 the Lawyers’ Committee presented her with its Whitney North Seymour Award. The Firm has also received awards for pro bono work done by Lindblom and lawyers working with her, including from Common Cause of New York and the American Civil Liberties Union of Louisiana, and she received the Firm's pro bono service award each year since it was instituted until her retirement. In 2013, she was selected as a "Top Rated Lawyer" in Appellate Law by The American Lawyer and Corporate Counsel magazine. That same year, she was selected to Fortune Magazine's "Women Leaders in the Law." She was also repeatedly named a "New York Super Lawyer" in business litigation during the years she was in active commercial practice. Lindblom was also the Associate Editor of Courthouses of the Second Circuit, published by the Federal Bar Foundation and Acanthus Press.
Experience
Representative Matters
Lead counsel for global health care company in patent licensing dispute affecting a broad range of products and encompassing novel patent misuse issues. Achieved favorable early settlement resolving all patent and licensing issues. Numerous follow-up patent licensing counseling matters.
Lead counsel for the leading global supplier of communications networking equipment in arbitration concerning patent license agreement with major corporation in Eastern Asia. Nine-day trial in which client prevailed, confirmed by the district court. Argued and won Second Circuit appeal concerning scope of arbitrators' disclosures.
Lead counsel for a leader in insurance technology in more than fifty cases, including an arbitration concerning a joint venture with major company in the industry; defeated multimillion dollar claims brought against client, prevailed on counterclaim and awarded attorneys' fees. Lead counsel on jury trial in Texas state court, with verdict for client on counterclaim and award of attorneys' fees. Lead counsel in dozens of other cases in state and federal courts in 22 states, primarily involving claims of fraud, breach of warranty and consumer protection act violations in connection with the sale of computer systems, as well as issues such as termination of an exclusive distributor, computer copyright infringement, dissolution of a joint venture, and nonperformance of contract for purchase of a company.
National counsel for one of the largest cigarette manufacturers and marketers in the U.S. in all cases in the Northeast in which state or local governments sought reimbursement of Medicaid expenditures attributable to smoking, and cases where union health and welfare benefit funds sought reimbursement of health care expenditures attributable to smoking. Each of these cases asked for $500 million or more in damages. Cases included actions brought by and against the Attorneys General of Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, and Vermont, and suits brought by Erie County and the City of New York and its Health and Hospitals Corporation. Defeated class certification in benefit fund case, leading to reduction in damage claim from approximately $500 million to $500,000. Lead counsel in successfully defending antitrust lawsuit brought to challenge the $200 billion settlement of the actions brought by the state attorneys general.
Lead counsel for the world's largest vehicle manufacturer in jury trial on warranty and breach of contract claims concerning gas turbine engines used in a cogeneration facility. Summary judgment on most counts and directed verdict for client on remaining claim. Argued as respondent on the Connecticut Supreme Court; unanimous opinion affirming trial court victory.
Lead counsel for one of the largest U.S. bank holding companies in jury trial and appeal defending against breach of fiduciary duty, negligence and contract claims in connection with purchase and management of commercial real estate, including issues relating to construction of building. Advise and defend depositions in related bankruptcy case.
Pro Bono
More
Thought Leadership
Publications
Associate Editor and Contributing Author, Courthouses of the Second Circuit: Their Architecture, History, and Stories (Federal Bar Council and Acanthus Press)
Memberships & Affiliations
Representative Professional Activities
Co-Chair, Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, 2004–2006; Director and Trustee, 2001-present; Strategic Plan Co-Chair, 2011–2012; Executive Committee, 2003–2009; Chair of Investment Committee, 2002–2004.
Federal Bar Council, Second Circuit Courts Committee, 2006–present.
Civil Rights Committee, Association of the Bar of the City of New York, 2007–2010.
Credentials
Admissions & Qualifications
- 1978Illinois
- 1995New York
Education
- University of Chicago Law SchoolJ.D.with Honors1978
Order of the Coif
Joseph Henry Beale Prize for Legal Writing
Comment Editor, University of Chicago Law Review
- Harvard-Radcliffe CollegeA.B.
cum laude
1971
News &
Insights
- In the News Pro Bono Firm of 2013: Kirkland & Ellis
- In the News Election Keeps Phones Ringing in Kirkland's NY Office
- In the News A Host of Monitors Will Watch the City’s Electronic Voting
- Press Release Federal Court Orders Louisiana to Provide Mental Health Care for Pretrial Detainees
- In the News Held in Captivity